Device for use with open hole testers in wells



Feb. 24, 1953 R. E. O'DONNELL 2,629,444

DEVICE FOR USE WITH OPEN HOLE TESTERS IN WELLS Filed NOV. 10, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l w i K 7 I5 g x g 23 g 47/9 gs e 7 .1 O Q 22 a, a

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IAVLNTOR. Roland E. ODonne/I,

BY I

- ATTORNEY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 R. E. O'DONNELL DEVICE FOR USE WITH OPEN HOLE TESTERS IN WELLS Feb. 24, 1953 Filed Nov. 10, 1950 X E N R 0 T T A 47454747474747 0 M. O O O O 0 74747/A7474747 INVENTOR. Roland E. O'Donnell,

Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE IDEVIQEFOR USE WITH OPEN HOLE TESTERS IN WELLS,

Thispinventi'on. relates-"to formation or drill stem testersused in oil wells or the like andmore particularly to an anchor device .for'use with suchatester.

"Drill stem testing of oil wells is now *a well developed art. As shown in the U. S. patent'to Simmons No. 1,930,987, granted October 17, 1933, the tester may include a valve mounted on the lower end of drillpipe and capable of'being manlpulatedthereby, a packer such "as a rat hole 'packer'whi'chseals on from the "remainder of the 'well bore .the particular earth formation undergoing test, and an anchor or tail pipe which usually acts as a strainer but also serves as an inlet tothevatlye and. drill pipe while the test is being made.

It frequently happens that in attempting to make a drill stem test, the anchor pipe strikes cuttings, heavy mud or other obstructions in the lower uncased part ofthe well bore and it is then impossible to make the test because the assembly cannot belowered to the depth necessary to pack 'oif the particular formation to be tested. Perhaps this occurs most frequently when a rat-hole type of packer like that shown in the Simmons patent'm'entioned above is used, but it also occurs when side-wall and hook wall packers are used or in any case where a test is being attempted in the open or uncased portion of the well bore.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for overcoming this diiiiculty. A pump cylinder and piston are incorporated'in theanchor or tail pipeof' the tester and these can be manipulated byraisingand lowering the drill pipe in such a wayas to jet cuttings, debris etc. out-of the open hole so that the tester can be lowered into the desired position. When'the desired position has been reached, the device is 50 designed as to serve as a strainer and not interfere with the making of a proper test.

The objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in vertical cross-section of the lower open hole portion of a'well bore with a testor therein and with an anchor device constructed in accordance'with the present invention cated'beneaththe packer.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the anchor deviceof Fig. 1, theviewshowing the'position of the parts'on the intake stroke of the pump incorporated therein.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional'view of the anchor device of Fig. "l, the viewbe'ing similarto thatof Fig, 2 except thatthe parts are heresh'own in the position they occupy at the end-ofthe-delivery stroke of the pump.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross-section of the lower open hole portion of an oil well with a tester therein and with an anchor device constructed' in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the anchor device of Fig. 4, the view showing the position of the parts on the intake stroke-of the" pump incorporated therein.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view-of the anchor device of Fig. 4, the view being similar-to that of Fig. 5 except that the parts are shown in thepcsition they occupy at the end of the delivery stroke of the pump.

Referring to the drawing in detail and first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, it will be seen that in Fig. 1, the well bore of an oil well is shown at I8. Although the invention is'not to be regarded as limited to use in a rat-hole, for purposes of illustration, a rat-hole is shown at H. Within the wellbore Ill and the rat-hole I! is a drill stem tester assembly which includes the drill pipe i2, 'a'tester or valve 13, which may be any one of the devices now commonly used for formation testing, a packer I4 and a tail pipe or anchor pipe l5 which is provided withperforations as shown at I9.

At the lower end of the-anchorpipe it, a tubular pump cylinder is is monntedfor sliding-movement, and this cylinder isprovid'edwith a pointed shoe ll containing ports or openings it which serve to jet fluid downwardly and outwardly therefrom. The details of the pump are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As thereshownyit will be seen that a piston 26 is .fixed, as by threads, to the lower end of the anchor pipe [5 'and'that a spring pressed traveling check valve 2! is mounted in the bottom of the'anchor pipe 15. The piston 20, during most of its'travel up and down in the cylinder it maintains a seal with the wall thereof and to this end. is'provided with packing or piston rings 22 of usual design. The anchor pipe [5, which also serves as the piston. rod of the pump extends through a guide ring 2-3 but no seal is maintained between the ring- 23 and the pipe I15.

Within the shoe ll on the cylinder [6, there is a spring pressedstanding check valve. 24. This valve regulates to some extent the passage of fluid upwardly through the jet ports l8 and the valve clearance chamber '25. It will be seen 'however'that by-p'ass ports 26 are rovideiibetween the chamber 25 and the interior of the cylinder I6. In other words, the valve 24, even when it is closed, does not completely seal the passageway between the cylinder I6 and the jet ports I8. Of course, the construction may be such that the by-pass ports are provided through the valve 24 and the stem thereof or the design may be such that the valve 24 does not completely close but some means should be provided for by-passing the valve 24 when it is closed although the by-pass should be small and serve, when the valve 24 is closed as a one-way choke limiting flow upwardly into the cylinder [6.

Provision is also made for by-passing the piston 20 when it is at the end, or nearly at the end of its downward or delivery stroke. This is accomplished by providing flutes or grooves on the inside of the cylinder I6 for a limited distance, as shown at 21. Just beneath these flutes 21. the cylinder I6 may be provided with an inwardly extending jar ring 28. This ring serves as an anvil which is struck by the piston 20. A special hammer may be provided on the anchor pipe I5 for striking the ring 28 but in the form shown the piston 28 serves as the hammer.

The ring 28 may be so spaced from the lower ends of the flutes 21 as to cause the liquid to cushion the blow delivered to the cylinder I3 by the piston 20 at the end of its downward stroke, as by causing wire-drawing of the liquid when the lower end of the piston passes the lower ends of the flutes.

In operation, the device is such that fluid may be jetted out of the bottom of the assembly to dislodge cuttings or debris in the open hole and then a jar blow delivered to the cylinder I6 to drive it into the space where the fluid has been jetted. Initially, if desired, the cylinder may be filled with jellied gasoline or any other fluid which will be useful in suspending cuttings or aiding in getting the anchor pipe down. In any event, when the shoe I'I strikes obstructions in the hole, the anchor pipe I5 and piston 29 move downwardly in the cylinder I6 and jet fluid therefrom into the portion of the well bore below the shoe I1, the valve 2I being closed and the valve 24 being open at this time so that there is no restriction to flow from the cylinder I6 to the jets I8. As the downward stroke of the pipe I5 is completed, the piston 20 passes the flutes 2'I'. Fluid can then by-pass the piston 28 so that it delivers a jarring blow to the ring 28 and drives the cylinder I6 and shoe II downwardly.

On the upward or intake stroke of the piston 20, some fluid can enter the cylinder I6 through the choke ports 26, but these are so small that the valve 2 I opens letting fluid into the cylinder mainly through the perforations I9 of the anchor pipe I5. Thus as the anchor pipe I5 is moved up and down in the cylinder I6, fluid is pumped from a point in the open hole H above the cylinder I6 to a point beneath the cylinder I6. This fluid may be circulated in this part of the open hole over and over, as the drill pipe is raised and lowered, until the anchor pipe is down to the desired location.

The number and location of the perforations I9 in the anchor pipe I5 may be such that when a test is made, the fluid from the formation enters the anchor pipe above the cylinder IS without flowing through it. On the other hand, especially up through the cylinder I6 and the arrangement illustrated is capable of carrying out such flow.

The packer I4 will normally be seated when the anchor pipe I5 and piston 25) are in the cylinder at the end of the delivery stroke, as shown in Fig. 3. Fluid can then flow through the jet ports I8, the choke ports 26, around the piston 20 through the flutes 21 and then through the perforations I9 up through the anchor pipe I5 into the tester I3 and drill pipe I2.

After the test has been completed, the anchor pipe I5 may be raised and lowered to cause the piston 23 or other hammer on the anchor pipe I5 to deliver upwardly jarring blows to the guide ring 23 and thus assist in removing the cylinder I6 from the open hole.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a wall packer is used instead of a rat-hole packer and the construction of the anchor and pump assembly is different than that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

To set a wall packer, like that shown at 30 in Fig. 4, it is ordinarily necessary to have its lower shoe supported on an anchor pipe 3I. As shown this anchor pipe is provided with ports 32 in its upper portion and these are located above any portion of the anchor pipe which extends into the pump cylinder 33 and above a cross partition or plug 34' (Fig. 6) in the anchor pipe. Any fluid which flows up through the anchor pipe SI, tester valve 35 and drill pipe 35 will flow along the outside of the lower portion of the anchor pipe 3| and enter it through the ports 32.

As in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is a piston 31 and a travelling valve 38 on the lower end of the anchor pipe 3I and the cylinder 33 is provided with a standing valve 39 and a jar ring 40. It will be observed, however, that there are no choke ports around the standing valve and no bypasses around the piston at any point in its path of travel.

Above the piston 3'! but below the :plug 34, the anchor pipe is provided with a number of holes 40 which serve as inlet ports for the pump cylinder 33. When the piston 31 is moved upwardly within the cylinder 33, fluid enters the cylinder through the ports 40 and the traveling valve 38 and when the piston 31 is moved downwardly within the cylinder, this fluid is forced out through the standing valve 39 and the jet ports 4| in the shoe 42 to force cuttings or the like up around the cylinder 33 and anchor pipe 3| so that the tester 35 and packer 30 can be lowered until it is in the desired position to test a particular formation.

While only. two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An anchor device for use with a drill stem tester in. oil wells or the like, comprising, in combination, an anchor pipe having perforations therein, a tubular cylinder mounted for sliding movement on the lower end of said anchor pipe, a piston within the cylinder and connected to the anchor pipe, a travelling valve mounted on said anchor pipe, a standing valve mounted in said cylinder beneath said travelling valve and a shoe on said cylinder having jet ports therein, Where-by when the anchor pipe is moved up and down with respect to the cylinder fluid is circulated, from a point above the cylinder through the perforations in the anchor pipe, down through the cylinder and jetted through said shoe to remove cuttings or the like from the portion of the well beneath the cylinder.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 in combination with a jar ring secured inside said cylinder and a hammer on said anchor pipe, the arrangement being such that the jar ring is struck by said hammer at the end of the downward stroke of said piston to deliver a downwardly driving blow to the cylinder.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 1 in combination with ports in said anchor pipe for bypassing said standing valve and flutes in said cylinder for lay-passing said piston when it is at the end of its downward stroke in the cylinder.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 1 in comsaid cylinder and a hammer on said anchor pipe,

the arrangement being such that the guide ring is struck by said hammer at the end of the upward stroke of said piston to deliver an upwardly driving blow to the cylinder.

ROLAND EARL ODONNELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,515 Yarbrough Sept. 29, 1936 2,144,842 Hanes Jan. 24, 1939 2,176,766 Johnston Oct. 17, 1939 2,332,144 Hanes Oct. 19, 1942 

